The family of a four-year-old boy who was accidentally given an "unintended vasectomy" during surgery are suing a hospital.
The child was undergoing an operation on a hernia when a surgeon cut one of his tubes which will carry sperm when he gets older.
It is now feared he will need further surgery in order to have children, or could face lifelong infertility.
The medical mishap occurred at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Randy Sorrels, an attorney acting on behalf of the boy's family, told Fox 4 : "It’s not a common mistake at all.
"Before a doctor transects or cuts any part of the anatomy, they are supposed to positively identify what that anatomy is and then cut.
"Here, the doctor failed to accurately identify the anatomy that needed to be cut."
Mr Sorells said the surgeon performing the hernia operation cut the boy's vas deferens tube.
He warned that the medical blunder could affect the boy "for the rest of his life".
As a result of the error, which happened in August last year, the boy has suffered uncomfortable swelling.
In a statement his legal team told ABC 13 : "While apologies were given, fully accountability was not accepted.
"The parents now face the difficult task of explaining this to their son at the appropriate age."
The family, which has filed a lawsuit for medical negligence, is concerned about the impact it will have on the child, and his potential partners.
Texas Children's Hospital told Fox 4 that it was unable to comment on the specific case, but said the "health and well-being of our patient" was its "top priority".
